The Prime Minister Datuk Anwar Ibrahim after a brief stay at the hospital this week, returned to attend his party’s assembly and made a bold statement of abolishing the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (AUKU), marking a significant change to the legal framework governing Malaysia’s public universities and university colleges.
AUKU, also known as Act 30, was enacted in 1971 and came into force on April 30 of the same year. The legislation provides for the establishment, maintenance and administration of universities and university colleges, as well as related matters.
The move Anwar he said will give youths more freedom and greater democratic space for the students to express their views on politics and on the country’s state of affairs.
The proposed abolition would represent a major shift in the governance of Malaysia’s public higher education institutions, particularly given the longstanding debate surrounding the Act and its implications for university autonomy, student participation and academic freedom.
The Act has undergone several amendments since its introduction, including amendments in 1971, 1975, 1983, 1996, 2009, 2012, 2019 and 2024.
AUKU has historically attracted scrutiny over provisions governing student activities and participation in politics. Amendments in later years removed some of the restrictions imposed on students, including the repeal of Section 15A, which opened the way for greater student involvement in political activities.
